HELP! Car Won't Start/Security Light Stays On
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 01-21-2009
Posts: 33
From: OH
^^ Thanks so much for your help! Sadly we decided it probably would need to be seen by our dealership, which we had it towed to yesterday afternoon, and they did an electronic test and came up with a U2137 code, which reads out "no communication with theft module", meaning the car is always thinking it's being broken into ~ I can't. believe. this. lol!! Has anyone here ever had this diagnosis with their HHR? 
It's going to cost us $511 for the repair and may take a couple days for the parts to arrive. I'm so bumming right now I can't believe it. We've had SO MANY repairs of great magnitude, on this '06 HHR, that it has completely left us feeling totally down on HHR's. We may need to consider just trading it in! I'm wondering if there is any kind of recall on this particular code/repair! If anyone has any experience with this code I'd love to hear about it, thanks so much!!! 
It's going to cost us $511 for the repair and may take a couple days for the parts to arrive. I'm so bumming right now I can't believe it. We've had SO MANY repairs of great magnitude, on this '06 HHR, that it has completely left us feeling totally down on HHR's. We may need to consider just trading it in! I'm wondering if there is any kind of recall on this particular code/repair! If anyone has any experience with this code I'd love to hear about it, thanks so much!!!
New Member
Joined: 01-28-2008
Posts: 29
From: New Mexico
I have hardly had any problems with my hhr (knock on wood) and it is an 06 too. the only major problem I had was a bad thermostat and thanks to my carmax extended warranty it only cost 50 bucks to get fixed. Its a bummer yours has been such a money pit
good luck in the future!!!
good luck in the future!!!
Joined: 05-27-2012
Posts: 2
From: Fort Walton Beach, FL
Battery disconnect trick worked
this may be a stupid idea, but it has worked when my hhr has been behaving badly. I never have had the problem you described, but it sounds like the computer has gone stupid. I would say try disconnecting the battery for about an hour, then re-connect it and see what happens.
JUST IN CASE:
The battery is located in the rear cargo well. to access it, first open the rear hatch and remove the plastic piece that is in the bottom. Then there should be a well with another plastic piece with a big plastic nob in the middle. Unscrew this nob and then lift up on the handles on either side of this plastic piece and remove it. then you need to remove the plastic piece that surrounds the door latch (the metal hook that is close to the bumper. If memory serves, this is easily removed by putting your hands underneath it and gently yet firmly lifting up.
Now you should see your battery on the right hand side. You will want to disconnect the negative terminal. That is the one without the red cover on it(the one you want should have a black cable on it) simply unscrew the bolt with a pair of pliers or a wrench and wiggle the connector until it pops off. be sure that this connector does not touch the other connector. also make sure that no metal of the connector is touching the post coming out of the top of the battery. This will mean that the battery isn't disconnected, so this whole procedure will be worth nothing.
after about an hour (probably less), reconnect the battery by wiggling the connector back on to the post in the battery, and tighten the screw. Then reverse this process to put the car back together.
I hope this might help your problem. However, if it happens again, I would recommend having it towed to the best dealer in town to have it fixed.
P.S. DO NOT SHUT THE TAILGATE WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. IT HAS AN ELECTRONIC LOCKING MECHANISM THAT WILL NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED (in other words you are locked out.) If you have to shut it or its too late, pop your hood and hook up some jumper cables to another car or a 12 volt battery. This will power your car to unlock the hatch.
Good luck!!!!!!!
JUST IN CASE:
The battery is located in the rear cargo well. to access it, first open the rear hatch and remove the plastic piece that is in the bottom. Then there should be a well with another plastic piece with a big plastic nob in the middle. Unscrew this nob and then lift up on the handles on either side of this plastic piece and remove it. then you need to remove the plastic piece that surrounds the door latch (the metal hook that is close to the bumper. If memory serves, this is easily removed by putting your hands underneath it and gently yet firmly lifting up.
Now you should see your battery on the right hand side. You will want to disconnect the negative terminal. That is the one without the red cover on it(the one you want should have a black cable on it) simply unscrew the bolt with a pair of pliers or a wrench and wiggle the connector until it pops off. be sure that this connector does not touch the other connector. also make sure that no metal of the connector is touching the post coming out of the top of the battery. This will mean that the battery isn't disconnected, so this whole procedure will be worth nothing.
after about an hour (probably less), reconnect the battery by wiggling the connector back on to the post in the battery, and tighten the screw. Then reverse this process to put the car back together.
I hope this might help your problem. However, if it happens again, I would recommend having it towed to the best dealer in town to have it fixed.
P.S. DO NOT SHUT THE TAILGATE WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. IT HAS AN ELECTRONIC LOCKING MECHANISM THAT WILL NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED (in other words you are locked out.) If you have to shut it or its too late, pop your hood and hook up some jumper cables to another car or a 12 volt battery. This will power your car to unlock the hatch.
Good luck!!!!!!!
I'm going to keep a pliers in the glove box just in case I get stranded somewhere and need to disconnect the battery again.
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,721
From: Alabama
Thanks. My 2010 HHR was not starting (electricals OK but would not crank), was about to call for a tow to the dealership but thought I would try disconnecting the battery first. Waited for 30 minutes, reconnected the battery and car started up just fine.
I'm going to keep a pliers in the glove box just in case I get stranded somewhere and need to disconnect the battery again.
I'm going to keep a pliers in the glove box just in case I get stranded somewhere and need to disconnect the battery again.
I would suggest a good clean up of the battery cables and posts. Plus, a good cleaning of the positive cable at the underhood fuse box terminal.
P.S. Pliers for a battery cable nut ? Please don't. Get the correct size wrench or socket. AND, always disconnect the ground side 1st before touching the positive terminal. Don't want to short out anything.
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
x2 what firemangeorge says - get that battery checked ASAP - your symptoms are typical for a battery that is on it's last legs.
and using pliers on a battery is definitely not the right tool for the job.
and using pliers on a battery is definitely not the right tool for the job.
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